Clothespin



Feb. 3, 1959 w. D. RICHARDS-ON 2,871,538

CLOTHESPiN Filed May 4, 195a IN VEN TOR.

v ATTORNEYS Wmunn D.R\cHARDSoN United States Patent CLOTHESPIN WilliamD. Richardson, Monson, Mass. 7 Application May 4, 1956, Serial No.582,708

1 Claim. c1. 24-137 This invention relates to clothespins, and moreparticularly has reference to a clothespin so designed as to includespring means adapted, without manual adjustment thereof, to impart tothe clothespin more strength than is true of clothespins previouslydevised, while at the same time providing a better grip upon theclothes.

Summarized briefly, the invention in one form comprises a double-endedclothespin having leaf springs at opposite sides thereof the endportions of which are engaged in outwardly facing recesses. The leafsprings are anchored intermediate their ends, by means of pins whichalso serve as connecting means for identical but opposite pin members,with the resultant construction providing a double-ended clothespinhaving longitudinal slots defined by and between the pin members atopposite ends of the device. The spaces between the pin members are sodesigned as to permit heavy, thick hems to be accommodated as well asthinner articles, and in each instance the spring arrangement is such asto provide a clamping action below the hems while at the same timepreventing splitting of the pin. In another form of the invention, theclothespin is of the single-ended type, but in its basic essentials, isstructurally 'and functionally like the double-ended clothespin.

Among important objects of the invention are the following:

To provide a clothespin that can be manufactured at low cost,considering the benefits to be obtained from the use thereof;

To so design the clothespin as to impart a high degree of strengththereto, thus increasing the useful life of the clothespin;

To so form and locate the springs relative to the clamping arms or pivotmembers of the device as to provide a particularly strong clampingaction upon the clothes while at the same time permitting the arms tofreely yield for the purpose of inserting or removing the clothes orother fabric articles engaged by the clothespin; and

To accomplish the above stated objects without the necessity of manuallyadjustable elements or other means that would tend to prolong the timerequired for engagement or disengagement of the fabric article.

Other objects will appear from the following description the claimsappended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like referencecharacters designate like parts throughout the several views, andwherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clothespin formed according to thepresent invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough on line 22 on anenlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a modified form showing a single-endedclothespin; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section on line 44 of Figure 3.

In Figures 1 and 2 there is illustrated a double-ended clothespinincluding elongated, oppositely but identically formed clamping members10, 12 including midlength 2,871,538 Patented Feb. 3, 1959 portions 14,16 respectively having fiat, contacting inner faces. Portion 14 isintegral with elongated clamping arms 18, 18 extending in oppositedirections from the portion 14, while portion 16 is correspondingly madeintegral with elongated clamping arms 20, 20. In the outer surfaces ofthe arms 18 there are formed longi- {tudinally extending, shallowrecesses 22, 22, similar recesses 24 being formed in the respective arms20.

As will be seen from Figure 2, the several longitudinal recesses areincreased progressively in depth from their inner outer ends, so thatthe bottom walls of the recesses lie in planes inclined slightly out ofalignment with the main or general planes of their associated clampingmembers.

A pair of identically but oppositely formed leaf springs 26, 28 isprovided upon the clothespin, and medially between their ends, saidsprings are anchored by transversely extending pins 30 through themidlength portions 14, 16. The pins are spaced closely apartlongitudinally of the clothespin, and extend through aligned openings ofthe respective clamping members, thus to not only anchor the springs totheir associated clamping members, but also to anchor the clampingmembers to each other medially between the ends of the clothespin.

From the location at which the members are anchored to each other, therespective clamping arms are spaced apart, to provide a slot-like recessopening inwardly from each of the opposite ends of the clothespin,adapted to receive a garment or other article to be gripped between theclamping arms. At the inner ends of the articleice receiving spaced,shallow, concaved recesses are formed in the inner surfaces of therespective clamping arms, defining elliptically shaped enlarged portions32 of the slot-like recesses 34 into which the articles are inserted.The enlarged portions adapt the clothespin for clamping engagement withthe thickened portions of the gripped articles, as for example, the hemsof various garments, and said thickened portions are effectively grippedwithout placing undue pressure upon the clothespin in a manner such aswould tend to split the same. a

In the outer ends of the slot-like recesses 34, the clamping arms arebeveled so as to define tapering throats 36 of said recesses,facilitating insertion of a cl-o-thesline and of the articles to beclamped.

As will be noted from Figure 2, the end portions of the springs areinclined obliquely to the bottom walls of the recesses, with the springsbeing disposed out of the recesses adjacent the points at which they arefixedly connected to the respective members 10, 12.

This arrangement results in the free ends of the springs being disposeda minimum distance away from the walls of the slot-like,article-receiving recesses 34. Further, said springs are so tensioned asto cause the free ends thereof to exert a continuous, resilientlyyielding pressure on the free end portions of the clamping arms, tendingto bias said arms toward each other, whereby to provide a highlyefficient clamping action upon the fabric articles.

In Figures 3 and 4 there is shown a modification which structurally andfunctionally is similar to the first form. However, the modificationprovides a single-ended clothespin, with the clamping members beingintegrally connected at one end of the pin as at 14a. The clampingmembers in this form of the invention have been designated at 18a, 20arespectively, and formed in the outer surfaces thereof are longitudinalrecesses 22a, 24a respectively, receiving leaf springs 26a, 28arespectively.

The leaf springs have one end anchored to the clamping memebrs, at thelocation of the integral connection of the clamping members to eachother, by means of a single pin 30a.

Defined between the clamping members is a slot-like recess 34a, theinner end of which has an enlarged portion 32a of elliptical shape, torthe same purpose as the enlarged portions 32 of the -first form of theinvention. The outerend of the slot-like openings 34a mergesinto atapered throat 36a, facilitating insertion of the clothesline and .thearticles to be gripped by the clothespin.

In this form of the invention, as in the first form, the springs,adjacent .the points to which they are anchored to the clamping members,are offset outwardly, to be disposed .exteriorly of the associatedrecesses 22a, 24a. Further, as in the first form, the springs areoppositely inclined obliquely to the planes of their associated clampingmembers, with the free ends of the springs exerting .a continuouspressure against the tree end portions of the clamping members tendingto bias said clamping members in a transverse direction toward eachother for effectively gripping the fabric articles.

A common characteristic may be noted in both forms of the invention. Theclothespin is not of the snap-on type, and a space is provided thereinparticularly adapted to accommodate heavy hems. Said space further aidsin preventing splitting of the clothespin while the flat or leaf springsare so arranged as to maintain pressure near each of the throats of theclothespin. This increases the grip of the clothespinupon the articleand prevents spreading of the article-receiving space while alsoincreasing the strength of the clothespin. No necessity for manualadjustment of any of the parts is required, with these characteristicsof the device inherent in the same, due to the particular formation,relative arrangement, and points of connection of the severalcomponents.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confinedto the specific use or uses thereof -described above, since it may beutilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the inventionto be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated anddescribed, since such construction is only intended to be illustrativeof the principles, it being considered that the invention comprehendsany minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scopeof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

A clothespin comprising at least one pair of elongated clamping membersdisposed in face-to-face contact at least at one location along thelength thereof; at least one pin headed at its opposite ends andextending transversely of the members at said location to rigidlyconnect the members to each other in said face-contacting relation, theheads at opposite ends of the pin being disposed in close proximity tothe outer surfaces of said members at said location, said membersextending in laterally spaced, normally parallel relation from alocation adjacent their fixed connection, defining therebetween anelongated, article-receiving slot open at one end, said members havingouter surfaces formedwith shallow longitudinal recesses extending fromthe location of said connection to locations adjacent said one end ofthe slot, said recesses, at the second named locations, having end Wallsextending transversely of the respective members; and a pair of leafsprings one end of which is disposed in face-contacting relation to saidouter surfaces of the members, at the location of said pin, said leafsprings being tightly clamped between said outer surfaces and therespective heads of the pin, so as to be fixedly anchored to therespective members at said one end of :the :leaf springs .by the pin,said springs extending within the recesses and slidably contacting themembers at the other ends of the springs, the springs being ;tensioned:at said other ends thereof to resiliently, yieldably oppose spreadingof the members from their normal parallel relation, said other ends ofthe springs, in the normal relation of the members, being spacedlongitudinally of the recesses from said end walls and moving toward theend walls into engagement therewith on spreading of the members, so asto limit the members against being spread beyond a predetermined extent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSAustralia Sept. 20, 1933

